Leading journalist Caroline Wilson has clashed with several AFL identities after defending Richmond star Dustin Martin‘s refusal to speak to media on the weekend.
In the aftermath of Richmond’s 27-point win over Collingwood on Saturday, Martin found himself in the firing line from some sections of the media after he opted against speaking to Fox Footy host Sarah Jones on the ground post-siren.
The 30-year-old was playing in his first game since round one after taking time away from the game due to personal reasons. Martin endured a tough off-season after his father Shane died in December last year.
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Wilson, a Richmond supporter, told Nine’s Footy Classified that it was wrong to expect Martin to be comfortable amid an ongoing personal battle.
“I think it’s a bit rich to put the pressure on a player who’s come back from six or seven weeks of personal leave, grieving the death of a relative and suffering from some sort of an emotional crisis that he felt so unhappy he couldn’t be at the footy club,” she said.
“Even if he was out doing other things, to expect him to give a couple of Dorothy Dixers, me as a viewer, I want to see two don’t argues.
“I don’t want to see two Dorothy Dixers.”
But that response didn’t sit well with fellow journalist and media icon Craig Hutchison.
“You’re not objective about Richmond. You never have been and you never will be,” Hutchison said.
Wilson in response replied: “That’s a ridiculous statement.”
Those comments led to a back and forth between the entire panel, with AFL greats Kane Cornes and Matthew Lloyd all putting the question to Wilson on when broadcasters should expect Martin to speak publicly.
Cornes: Why is he off limits [to the media]?
Wilson: So you think a player who’s had personal leave doesn’t have to speak straight away?
Cornes: I think it’s very fair for Dustin to say, ‘I thank the Richmond Football Club for their support, It’s so good to be back out here, how good is it to see the fans back. Thanks for your support’.
That is it.
Lloyd: What about in two months, or what about in four weeks?
Cornes: He never speaks.
Wilson: He occasionally speaks and he never says much.
To be honest, my view is that too much is made about players speaking straight after, during or even before a game. I generally hate it.
As a supporter, I want to see them play.
Hutchison: That’s not really for you to decide.
If the broadcaster would like it… the broadcaster is entitled to expect that.
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Wilson: I think it’s really weird you would care about two Dorothy Dixers.
That would not have given me any more than I got as a football fan watching Dustin Martin come back.
Hearing Shane Edwards say to 3AW after the game, ‘I looked around and saw him there and thought, thank God’.
That spoke volumes to me.
Cornes: To Lloyd’s point, when are they allowed to ask him to speak?
Wilson: I just think there are certain parameters for players who have had a form of grief or mental illness. I don’t think that’s asking too much.